President Donald Trump revealed his intention to embark on an official tour to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar between May 13 and 16, in his first foreign visit since returning to the White House.
This tour aims to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships with Gulf countries, with expectations of sealing massive deals and investments exceeding a trillion dollars.
The visit is expected to include the signing of significant agreements in defense, infrastructure, and technology, including a potential deal to sell around a thousand AIM-120C-8 air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia for $3.5 billion, in addition to defense cooperation with the UAE and Qatar.
The tour comes at a critical international time, amid reports of a possible meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his presence in Saudi Arabia, as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at calming several hot-button issues, notably the crisis in Ukraine.
Trump's anticipated visit carries important political and economic messages, emphasizing the growing role of the Gulf in shaping the next phase of international relations.